10 of the Most Common DIYs Gone Wrong (and How to Fix Them)

Some homeowners take on a DIY project as a fun pastime, but this can quickly turn into a major time-sucker. When date night keeps becoming an exhausting DIY night, that’s not a good sign.

Fix: Remember, this is a project, not a penance – take time away from the renovation so it feels like a labour of love, not a chore. Jasmine suggests breaking up the project into manageable parts so that you can feel invested in your renovation without becoming overwhelmed.

Related: This Sweet DIY Herb Drying Rack is Perfect if You’re Into Herbal Remedies

Taking on a major project like a home renovation, especially one involving multiple rooms, without a plan in place can mean that you’re setting yourself up for your failure even before you begin demolition.

Fix: Make sure you have a concrete plan and budget before starting anything in terms of renovations (and build in a buffer). Jasmine’s go-to when beginning to budget is to design and plan around the appliances or parts that have already been purchased or don’t need updating. That’s a good place to start – and save money in the long run!

related: 5 Easy Touches to Make a New Space Instantly Feel Like Home

Temporary fixes can become difficult or unsafe to live with in the long term. On season 2 of Help! I Wrecked My House, we saw a major case of this with Mike and Sarah. The couple had a time crunch in between moving houses, which led to ripped up flooring that was never replaced and exposed electrical wiring, almost leading to a fire.

Fix: Think of the big picture rather than one small fix at a time, and don’t rely on a temporary fix in case it ends up staying there. In Mike and Sarah’s case, Jasmine checked the rusty pipes that had been ignored and covered over, put in custom cabinetry where there had previously been cabinets held together with tape (yes, tape!), and made numerous flow and safety improvements.

Related: Our Top 10 Organizing Essentials for Busy Kitchens

When you get one DIY right the first time, it’s easy to get carried away and seriously hurt yourself along the way. Take Sam and Katrina, for example, flush with the success of their kitchen and bathroom renovation, the couple tried to double the size of their house with a DIY addition and go way too far, even putting up framing. It’s only after Sam injures himself onsite that he admits that they need help.

Fix: Know your limits. Be cautious not to bite off more than you can chew, and know when to call in the experts – after all, not everything is meant to be DIY’d. “This is probably one of the worst cases of overambitious DIY I’ve ever encountered,” said a normally unflappable Jasmine after seeing Sam and Katrina’s home project. She and general contractor Scott had to spend a lot of time repairing before starting any design upgrades (for example, levelling out the concrete slab the couple had poured).

Related: 10 Decor Ideas Worth Stealing From Home Town Takeover

Along with the other issues with Sam’s DIY addition, he had unexpectedly skipped over some crucial design elements in constructing the bathroom. The plumbing, in particular, wasn’t centred in the space, so a toilet would have been impossible to install, and the fittings for the pipes were also incorrect.

Fix: Always consider the layout of the proposed space carefully and know what is required for the project you’re about to tackle. In this case, Jasmine needed to relocate the toilet and drain line, as well as add a curve to the pipe to avoid flooding – a costly $2,500 fix that could have been avoided with some research. A learning experience, nonetheless!

Related: 10 Things You Never Knew You Could Makeover With Paint

When a supposed short term renovation stretched out to half a year, Matt and Sarah (and their children) ended up living with his parents due to the uninhabitable nature of their semi-demoed house. Turning your house into a construction zone without considering the basic workings of your family’s routines can lead to upheaval and chaos while you wait.

Fix: Sit down before you start the renovation and make a list of your family’s daily needs. Think about where you will cook meals and sleep. Consider children, pets and other dependents who may be affected by the upheaval, and plan out construction zones around those factors.

Related:10 Household Items That Are Better When Purchased Secondhand

Sam and Katrina were both convinced that they wanted the bathroom completely open to the bedroom, but Jasmine pointed out the privacy issues if they wanted to use both rooms at the same time.

Fix: Think about flexibility and multi-use spaces when planning a renovation. Always consider how each room will function – sometimes design elements, such as open-concept or flow between rooms, need to balance with personal and practical considerations. Jasmine came up with the solution of barn doors, which could be left open when not in use.

Related: Sarah Baeumler’s 10 Staging Tricks That Will Make a Tiny Room Look Bigger

Often, the parties involved in a reno have pretty strong (and opposing) opinions regarding design, which can lead to indecision and back-and-forth when deciding on tiles, flooring, or other design elements. Jasmine restricts the field by establishing some common ground, such as geometric shapes in tile, allowing everyone to come to an agreement.

Fix: Narrow down a design aesthetic and colours before trying to choose tile or paint to avoid getting bogged down by too many options.

Read more: 14 Colour Palettes That Go Surprisingly Well Together

Communication is key for any home reno. Take Alex and Liz as a prime example of this from season 2 of Help! I Wrecked My House. Alex tries to install wainscoting for Liz in their home’s entryway; it turns out that they were thinking of two completely separate things. She meant traditional wainscoting, and he incorrectly installed beadboard paneling instead.

Fix: Always make sure you are on the same page when it comes to design elements, using pictures or samples if necessary. Luckily, Jasmine got the couple back on track with options for board and batten wainscoting.

Related: 2021 Design Trends That Will Last, According to a Design Expert

It’s easy to get dazzled by social media and how-to videos before diving into a new DIY home project. These can be super helpful, but when it comes to major home upgrades, these tips can lead to half-done renos that end up costing way more than expected (not to mention the potential safety hazards not mentioned online!).

Fix:

The internet helps when it comes to research, but it doesn’t hold all the answers – know when to call in the pros rather than depending on social media.

Related: 10 Things You Need to Know When Renovating a Historic Home